Method of and apparatus for removing scrap wire from multiple supplies



1960 c. H. CROSBY ETAL 2,959,905

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SCRAP WIRE FROM MULTIPLE SUPPLIES Filed March 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN vE/v T57R 5 Nov. 15, 1960 c. H. CROSBY ETI'AL 2,959,905

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SCRAP WIRE FROM MULTIPLE SUPPLIES Filed March 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CH EF'UEEY LU. 7. H/C'KS 1Q 1Q LL/Ql-ILEEFG' T TUQNE United States Patent METHOD "OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SCRAP WIRE FROM MULTIPLE SUPPLIES Charles H. Crosby, Cranford, William T. Hicks, Glen Rock, and Roger R. Wahlberg, Bloomfield, N.J., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,173

6 Claims. (Cl. 571) This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for removing strands from supply reels particularly excess strands remaining on the supply reels after the forming of predetermined lengths of cable.

In the manufacture of many kinds of cable the strands or wires used in making the cables are wound initially on supply reels. The strands or wires are usually threaded through guides and will vary in number of single or pairs of strands depending upon the requirements for the cable. When a cable of predetermined length has been formed or the supply on one or more of the reels has run out, the numerous other supply reels still will have lengths of strands wound thereon. Until these remaining strands are removed, the supply reels cannot again be put in use. In the past these partially empty supply reels were removed from their supports and the remaining strands removed individually therefrom.

Objects of the present invention are a method of and apparatus for removing strands simultaneously from a plurality of supply reels.

In accordance with the objects, the present invention is a method of supplying strands for forming cable by advancing the strands longitudinally from a group of supply reels until a cable of a predetermined length is formed, connecting the remaining strands from the supply reels together, cutting the cable to length, and removing the connected strands simultaneously from their supply reels.

The apparatus according to the objects is disposed in a strand supply for a cable forming apparatus and includes a clamp to secure together the leading ends of the remaining strands cut from the cable and having means connected to the clamp to remove the strands simultaneously from the supply reels.

More specifically the apparatus includes a takeup reel adapted for connection with the clamp removably mounted free to rotate and driven to wind the excess strands from all the supply reels on the takeup reel.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the apparatus embodied in a strand supply for a cable forming apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus showing the clamped leading ends of the excess strands secured thereto;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the clamp, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the apparatus, portions thereof being shown in sections.

Fig. 1 illustrates a supply portion of a cable forming apparatus including a frame having two rows of supports 11 for supply reels 12 having single or groups of strands 14 wound thereon. The strands 14 pass around guide rollers 15 and through stationary guides 16 when advanced longitudinally by the other units of the cable form-ing apparatus until cables or cable units of desired lengths have been formed. At this time the cable forming apparatus is stopped and the strands are cut from the formed cable leaving the leading ends of groups of excess strands in the area of each apparatus 18.

The leading ends of the excess strands are secured to; gether in a clamp 19 shown more in detail in Fig. 3. The

5 clamp 19 in the present instance is a resilient band 20 fixed to a support 21 which has a slightly curved pin 22 receivable in any one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 23 in a drum portion 24 of a takeup reel 25. The resilient portion or band 20 is adapted to be 10 opened by a lever 26 pivoted at one end 27 to one end of the band 20 and near its center 28 to the other end of the band. This adapts the clamp, when opened, to receive the grouped leading ends of the excess strands and to firmly clamp the strands when closed. A grooved roller 30 15 in each instance serves to guide the group of excess strands to the takeup reel 25 for each apparatus.

The apparatus, by the aid of which the method may be practiced, is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4 at the right side of which a spring pressed cone center 32 is positioned 20 to be received in the hub 33 of the takeup reel 25. The cone center 32 is mounted for axial movement on a shaft 34 which has an arm 35 fixed thereto. A spring pressed connecting pin 36 carried by one end of the arm 35 is urged outwardly by its spring 37 to enter an aperture 38 25 in the head of the takeup reel 25 to form a positive driving connection between the shaft 34 and the reel. The shaft 34 is an output shaft of a speed reducing unit 39 driven by a motor 40 to drive the takeup reel in the direct-ion of the arrow shown in Fig. 2. A cone center 42 rotatably sup- 30 ported in suitable hearings in a stationary cylinder 43 is urged to the right by tluid under pressure, entering the cylinder through an inlet 44, to engage the adjacent hub of the reel 25 and force the reel to the right for engagement with the cone center 32 to liftthe reel free of its 3 support 45 for rotation.

Operation The method steps carried out by the aid of the apparatus include connecting the excess strands 14 from the formed cable by any suitable means, not shown, securing the free ends of the excess strands together and removing the excess strands simultaneously from all the supply reels. By the term simultaneously it is meant that lead- 45 ing ends of all of the excess strands are connected together and their removal from their supply reels begins simultaneously, although the removal for some may terminate in advance of the removal of others due to the possible existence of lengths of strands on some supply reels being shorter than the strand on other reels. The takeup reel 25 18 one of many which may be used in the apparatus, the necessary feature of the takeup reel being the provision of the apertures 23 for receiving the pin 22 of the clamp 19 in connecting the clamped leading ends of the excess strands to the t-apeup reel. The apparatus 18 in each instance is mounted adjacent the area where the cable is cut from the excess supplies of strands making it necessary only for the operator in each instance to secure the clamp 19 to the group of free ends of the strands leading from the supplies, connecting the clamp to the takeup reel and energizing the motor 40 to remove all of the strands in each instance from the supply reels.

It is to be understood that the above described arrange ments are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrange- .,ments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of supplying strands for forming a cable by advancing the strands longitudinally from a group of supply reels until a cable of a predetermined length is formed, cutting the remaining strands from the cable, connecting the leading ends of the remaining strands from the supply reels together, and removing the connected strands simultaneously from their supply reels.

2. In a method of supplying strands according to claim 1, in which the connected leading ends of the strands are secured to a takeup reel and the removing step includes driving of the takeup reel to wind the remaining strands removed from the supply reels on the takeup reel.

3. In a method of supplying strands for forming a cable by advancing the strands longitudinally from a group of supply reels until a cable of a predetermined length is formed, cutting the strands at the end of the formed cable, clamping the leading ends of the remaining strands together, securing the clamped ends to a takeup reel, and driving the takeup reel to remove the remaining strands from the supply reels simultaneously and Wind them simultaneously on the takeup reel.

4. In a strand supply for a cable forming apparatus having a group of supply reels for strands pulled from the supply reels until a cable of a predetermined length is formed and the remaining strands are cut therefrom, a

clamp to secure together the leading ends of the remaining strands cut from the cable, and means connected to the clamped ends to remove the remaining strands simultaneously from the supply reels.

5. In a strand supply for a cable forming apparatus according to claim 4, in which a 'takeup reel is rotatably mounted in a position to wind the clamped strands, and means to rotate the takeup reel to wind the strands upon the takeup reel. 7 6. In a strand supply for a cable forming apparatus according to claim 5, in which the clamp has means to removably connect the clamp to the takeup reel, and a motor energizable to drive the takeup reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,925 Reed May 30, 1933 2,136,388 Lowe NOV. 15, 1938 2,615,651 Johnson Oct. 28, 1952 2,692,419 Curley Oct. 26, 1954 2,846,162 Allin et a1 Aug. 5, 1958 

